ALBANY — New York could announce as early as this week a legislative deal to crack down on cyber bullying in schools and through social media, according to a state official close to the negotiations.

The official said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are planning to pass the measure by the end of the regular session June 21. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal isn't yet final.

The final bill will for the first time define cyber bullying, making it easier to set school policies and to enforce laws. It will also require every school to create a protocol and investigate reports of cyber bullying, the official said. More details are expected to be worked out Wednesday.

A three-way deal would include input from the Senate's Republican majority and the Assembly's Democratic majority and would be expected to pass easily. The Assembly stresses prevention and awareness, particularly in schools. The Senate also requires reporting and provides immunity from civil lawsuits for "good-faith" reporting of cyber bullying.

"Far too many people have been bullied and those who have — and I include myself — can certainly recall the incidents," said state Sen. Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican and sponsor of the measure. "It's not something that goes away and in today's world you can be bullied 24/7, incessantly, without any relief."

The proposed education laws are backed up by criminal laws under which the behavior can be prosecuted.